308 Advise please

[grubbylabs]

Just picked up some new components to load my 308 with.


What I have is:
Marlin XS-7 308
Winchester Brass
rem 9 1/2 primer
Varget Powder
Hornady 165 grain SST

What I am looking for is a good starting place.

Hornady lists 32.6 - 44.0 grains

At which end of the scale are you finding better performance (accuracy) at?
I am just looking to shorten he curve a little.
Thanks for your input.

 

[animator]

With Varget, 40.0 and 44.0 seems to give the best results with bullets in a range of weights from 150gr up to 180gr from my experience and rifle.

Anything below 39 just felt "off", I don't know how else to describe it. It was functional, but didn't have quite the same feel that the hotter loads had, not to mention the accuracy.


This is all speaking for a 21" barrel, gas-operated semi-auto, though, so your results may varry.

 

[TheCracker]

Check the hodgon website becuase I believe you can go higher than 44 grains with varget on a 165 g bullet. I load 45.1 grains with a 168 grain bullet and it's within the charge range.

 

[TheCracker]

Oh and that load gets me 2712fps out of my 24" rem 700 if velocity matters to you

 

[joneb]

I use 43-43.5gr of Varget with Nosler 165gr bullets with good results in a Howa w/a 1:12 22" barrel, OAL around 2.820".

 

[grubbylabs]

Thanks for the input so far.

It would appear that mine is also a 22" 1:12 twist so I may start at 40 and work up.

 

[grubbylabs]

Has any one used magnum primers with Varget? magnum primers are all I have to use so I was just wondering if any one has any experience with the powder and magnum primers.

I plan on starting low and working up but it would be nice to know where people are finding the sweet spot. If I can find a general range then I can work up to that range in 1/2 grain increments and then go to .2 increments so that I can refine my load.

 

[MtnCreek]

Has any one used magnum primers with Varget? magnum primers are all I have to use so I was just wondering if any one has any experience with the powder and magnum primers.

I've used them w/o issues. I would start at book starting charge and move up slowly. With Varget in a .308, my best loads are typically around 1gr below max, but keep in mind you're using mag primers.

 

[Bmac1949]

How about starting at the 32.6gr load and work up in 1gr. or 1.5gr loads up to near max load. Find out what works for your rifle and then fine tune from there. I'm kinda guessing but with a spread that wide you might find a sweet spot on both ends of the scale. Should be an interesting load to work up.

 

[Dakota Bones]

165 & varget

I use 165gr Game Kings with Varget,Lapua Brass,CCI BR2 primers, 45.5 grains
of powder ,COL. 2.750 with a velocity of 2740 out of my Vanguard's 24" barrel